Did you roll over on a scorpion at phantom ranch?

Yes, in July of 1992, did a 3-night, 4-day rim-to-river hike of the North Kaibab Trail. To adjust for summer heat, we hiked in early morning or early evening. Spending a night at Cottonwood CG, halfway down, Bright Angel CG and another night at Cottonwood CG, before our hike out day. It was a very nice corridor hike adjusted to match July conditions. During the night at Bright Angel CG (Phantom Ranch), while sleeping I felt a sharp bite on my right forearm. My first thought was a rattlesnake had bitten me through the tent wall.

Upon turning on the head torch I discovered an Arizona bark scorpion on my arm. You could see were the two pincers stretched out to grasp my skin and extend the stinger for the sting. This is a very good method for understanding the true meaning of that word. I unzipped the mesh screen door and let it go. My arm was swollen, actually quite a bit when compared to the other arm, there was pain, restriction of movement for about two days. The scorpion itself was 5 centimeters fully extended and almost a clear color.

I theorized that I had left my pack on the ground for about an hour and then brought it in the tent with a hitchhiker. While sleeping I rolled over and pressured my right forearm against the tent wall. I think squeezing the scorpion between my arm and the tent wall caused it's need to sting. A definite ouch.

Since then, when hiking in the canyon we do not bring packs in the tent and inspect our footwear prior to wearing. Besides the sting, one of things we remember most is watching day hikers collapse as the came down the South Kaibab, most in the heat of the day, and a majority with plans to hike out via Bright Angel Trail. We felt bad for many of them, dressed in t-shirts and shorts. They provided a good example to my daughter of how not to hike the Grand Canyon.

I guess just getting that close to you after a day of hiking did it in

OK, I just asked because of an overheard conversation at the beef stew dinner. Someone saying they were on the "forums" was relating the story.

As for us, the wife and I were asked to hike rim to rim south to north by a friend who had scored permits for Indian Garden, Phantom ranch, and Cottonwood.
We stepped off the rim on Bright Angel trail May 22. Most of the party of five being relative newbies, a leisurely itinerary was planned with first night at Indian Garden, two nights at Bright angel, and one night at Cottonwood.

We opted for dinners and breakfast at the ranch, with a couple of mule delivered duffles arranged to help keep the weights down.
The company was very fine. Having a Phd geologist along, one with a sharp and lively sense of humor, proved most satisfactory for all.
My lovely wife won the Trouper award, pushing thru mild altitude discomfort on the last 1500 ft elevation gain to top the North Rim with enough moxie to spare to make the last mile over to the lodge for pizza and beer.

Random observations:
I saw one baby scorpion on the trail. We had a spotted skunk roaming close to camp at Cottonwood. The rim to rim (and the smug rim to rim to rim) runners were only mildly annoying. The park was building a new pit crapper at phantom ranch due to the expected "thousands" of rim-runners. Bringing in stuff to build them by chopper...
and I mean to tell you those pilots can FLY. The most newbie member of our group went from saying, "this is not my thing" on the first day to planning to tackle a 100 mile section of the AT on the last day.

I stopped at Whitehouse on the drive back to Vegas....and, as I had hoped, the wife became hell bent on doing the Paria Canyon with me next time we find ourselves in canyon country.